National Republican., 1887-01-22
STEEL GUNS EXPLODE.
Yankee Gun Metal Good Enough for
Americans.

Americans.
There is a good deal TO be said about the
endurance Of cast iron guns-a good deal
gathered from the experience Of the past
fifteen years.
Since 1871 an S.inch gun Of cast iron,
weighing only eight tons, was fred more
than 1000 rounds, and was repeatedly un-
der pressures of more than forty-fve tons
per square inch.
Since the same year another S-inch rifed
gun, mate to the above, was fired 1854
rounds, under pressure averaging more than
twenty tons per square inch of bore, and 1t
Is still In serviceable condition.
Again, since 1871, q IL inch rified gun,
entirely Of cast iron, weighing only ~
tons, was fired more than 500 rounds, under
pressures running as high as 40 tons per
square inch.
Since 1873 200 lO.inch cast iron Rodman
guns were converted into S.inch rifles OF
tons weight by inserting wrought iron
tube about inches thick. Several of them
have since been fired more than 700 rounds
each, and not one Of them has failed. One
of them has been fired repeatedly under
pressure of more than 40 tons per square
inch OF bore
Since 1878, too, 10-inch cast iron rifled
gun, lined with wrought iron tube, was
fred very many rounds and is still In ser
v!ceable condition.
Since the same year an 11.inch cast Iron
rihed gun Of the same construction was fired
40l rounds, with full battering charges, and
is still serviceable.
Since 1873 an 11-inch cast iron chambered
rifle OF the same general construction has
been fired more than 100 rounds with heavy
charges, and is still serviceable.
Since 1878, to give another boost TO Amer.
lean gun metal, a 12l-inch cast iron rifle OF
the same general construction has been fired
about 200 rounds, with charges up to 200
pounds, and is In good condition.
SOME RECENT EXPERIMENTS.
Within the past two years l5-lnch
smooth bore Rodman gun OF 25 tons weight,
has been fired more than 800 rounds, with
130.pound charges, and is In good condition.
Since 1886 l2.inch breech-loading rife,
entirely of cast iron, has been fired 1877
rounds, with charges producing $1,000 to
$4,000 foot tons muzzle energy, and Is still
serviceable.
A l00-ton cast iron gun, made for the
Italian government, of l772 bore, carrying
a2,200 pound ball, aud fired by charge Of
S5pounds Of Fossano slow burning powder,
has been fired 400 times, while no steel gun
of over l2 inches has ever been fired over
1876 times.
STEEL GUNS.
II would be five years before steel guns
at to defend the harbor, or to guard any
coast OF this country, could be manufac-
tured and put In place.
Gen. Benet, chief OF the ordnance de-
partment, and the bureau, OF which he is
the head, favors steel guns.
WhyY
The history of the use OF steel guns is full
OF explosive failures.
An 8.inch steel gun aboard H. NJ. s. Ac-
tive burst under half charge OF power, and
the board appointed toinyestigate the cause
could not explain II.
On II. NJ. s. Canada q C eel gun burst,
killing one man and wounding four Others.
On II. M. s, Collingwood the tube OF
l2-inch steel rihed gun, loaded with
three-quarter charge Of powder and III
pound shot, burst eight feet from the muz
zle and split the pocket,
A 100 ton Armstrong gun burst on thu
italian ironclad Duino after a very few
rounds.
Finch Armstrong gun burst on th
Argentine man-of-war PavoDla.
Some OF the steel guns on ii. NJ. s. Alex
andria failed during the bombardment o
the Egyptian city OF that name.
All the 10O-ton guns furnished the Italial
government by Armstrong e. Co. for tn
ironclads Duilio, DandOlo, and Lepant'
have been condemned, although none o
them haye been fired fifty rounds.
l4'inch riiied steel gun OF the lates
design, aboard IL. NJ. S. Ajax, failed II
July last.
A l00ton steel gun lately blew off II
muzEle on the proving ground at st. Cha
mound, Venice,
Two 100-ton steel Krupp guns, made TO
the italian government Tor coast defense